Automatic record changer for phonographs



Feb. 28, 1939. CARTMELL 2,148,531

AUTOMATIC RECORD CHANGER FOR PHONOGRAPHS Filed July 27, 1935 4Sheets-Sheet l- Q 1, M v R F0 0 o e L a m 0 2 Q r a & l W Q 7 In u n i QFeb. 28, 1939. B, 1.. CARTMELL 2,148,531

AUTOMATIC RECORD CHANGER F OR PHONOGRAPHS Filed July 27, 1335 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 28,1939. B. CARTMELL AUTOMATIC RECORD CHANGER FORPHONOGRAPHS 4 Sheets-:Shgeit 3 Filed July 27, 1935 Feb. 28, 1939. B L(:ARTMELL 2,148,531

AUTOMATIC RECORD CHANGER FOR PHONOGRAPHS Filed July 27, 1935 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Feb. 28,1939

ATEN AUTOMATIC nnconn CHANGER- FOR rnonocaarns Benjamin L. Cartn iell,Dayton, Ohio Application July 27, 1935, Serial No. 33,552

' 1:; Claims. 01'. 274-10) This inventionrelates'to phonogra hs, andmore particularly to mechanism for utomatically interchanging records atthe end of each playing period.

While the record changing mechanism, forming the subject matter hereof,is well adapted for home use, and is applicable to any disc typephonographic apparatus, the particular embodiment of the inventionherein illustrated and described is especially designed for commercialuse in amusement resorts, restaurants, and public places, and istherefore shown as equipped with an amplifier system and coin controlmeans. v

The present record changing mechanism is adapted to present multipledisc records in play- .ing position by returning-the previously playedrecord to the top of a loose stack andremoving the lowermost record ofthe stack for replacement of such played record.

The control mechanism is so arranged that as thereproducer arm of thephonographic apparatus approaches the center of the record, at thecompletion of the playing operation, it closes a make and break contactin an electrical control circuit which causes a vertical stack ofreserve disc records to be played to be automatically shifted from theirnormal position at one side of the. phonograph playing table to aposition over such table, and as the stack of records approaches thetable, the previously played record is caused to be tilted upwardly intoan inclined position. The stack of reserve records is then pushedbeneath the uptilted played record, which falls to flat position on topof the stack.

As the stack of reserve records approaches a position of registry withthe phonograph playing table, a replacement record is dropped from thebottom of the'stack on to the rotary table. The reproducer arm, which inthe meantime has been returned to starting position by engagementtherewith of a contact member moving with the stack of records, is thenlowered on to the replacement record, as the stack of reserve records isreturned to normal position in laterally offset relation with thephonograph table. The records are thus automatically interchanged andplayed in sequence.

In the event that it is desired to select a particular record from thestack other than the lowermost record thereof, the cycle ofinterchangeoperations can be repeated successively by manual operation ota selectorbutton which closes the electrical circuit pertaining to the recordchanging mechanism, until the desired record is deposited upon therotary phonograph table. Otherwise the control circuit for the recordchanging mechanism is automatically closed by the action of thereproducer arm at the 5 conclusion of the record playing operation toefiect an automatic exchange of the played record for the next record ofthe series. The actuation of the record changing mechanism, whethereifected automatically by the reproducer arm or manually by operation ofa selector circuit button, does not set the phonograph table in operation to play the positioned record. The playing of the selectedrecord is initiated by subsequent depression of a plunger button whicheffects closure of the phonograph motor energizing circuit, unless in acoin controlled apparatus a number of reserve coins have been deposited,

in which event the interchange and playing of records will beautomatically repeated until the coin supply is exhausted.

For commercial operation, the control circuits are so arranged that itis necessary to deposit a proper coin before the record changeractuating circuit can be closed by the selector button. However, if noselection of records is to be effected, but the record which has beenpreviously automatically positioned is to be played, the playing buttonor plunger may be operated to set the apparatus in operation withoutmanipulation of the selector. Upon depression of the playing plunger,the same coin which may have enabled the repeated operation of therecord changing mechanism any number of times to bring the desiredrecord on to the playing table 5 is also efiective to close thephonograph motor circuit. At the time the phonograph motor circuit isclosed to play the record, the record changer control circuit isautomatically opened to prevent the record changer being set in oper- 40ation before the playing operation has been completed. Provision ismade, however, for deposit of a reserve supply of coins which will causethe cycle of record changing and playing operations to be automaticallyrepeated until the coin supply is exhausted. The supply of depositedcoins may be held in reserve for either record selection operation andutilized one at a time for playing the records as selected, or forautomatic repetition of the playing operations in which case-the recordsare interchanged and played in sequence.

The object of the invention is to improve the construction as well asthe means and mode of operation of phonographic record changingapparatus, whereby such apparatus may not only be cheapened inconstruction, but will be more eficient in use, of compact form,automatic in action, and unlikely to get out of order.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a new method ofinterchanging records and a new sequence of operation for effectingautomatic interchange thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved method ofselecting records to be played, and to provide an improved method ofcontrolling the interchange of records.

A further object of the invention is to provide a record changingapparatus wherein the record discs are looselyfistacked and successiverecords automatically removed from the stack and returned thereto.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means forcontrolling the operation of the record changing mechanism by the actionof the phonographic pickup arm or reproducer.

A further object of the invention is to provide selective means forpresenting in playing position at will any particular record of a serieswithout playing the records consecutively.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for automaticallypreventing actuation of the record changing mechanism while the playingof a selected record is in progress.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means forcontrolling the pickup or reproducer arm of the phonograph by theactuation of the record changing mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means forreturning the reproducer arm to its starting position at the completionof a playing period, and forerepositioning the reproducer upon areplacement record preparatory to the next playing operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved mechanismfor enabling a predetermined number of records to be automaticallyinterchanged and played in consecutive order.

A further object of the invention is to enable the interchange andplaying of records to be automatically arrested when a predeterminednumber of records have been consecutively played.

A further object of the invention is to provide coin control meanswherein multiple deposited coins may be consecutively utilized one at atime for selective record changing operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide coin control meanswherein multiple deposited coins may be consecutively utilized one at atime for successive record playing operations.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view, as willmore fully appear in the specification, the invention consists of thefeatures of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and themode of operation, or their equivalents, as hereinafter described andset forth in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown the preferredbut obviously not necessarily the only form of embodiment of theinvention:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, viewed from the upper side of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, viewedtoward the right.

Fig. 4 is a similar transverse sectional view on the same line viewedtoward the left.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. I, viewedtoward the right.

carriage 8.

Figs. 6, '7, 8 and 9 are all longitudinal sectional views on line 6-6 ofFig. 1, the respective views showing the record changing apparatus insuccessive positions of adjustment.

Fig. 10 is a perspective detail view of the coin control mechanism.

Fig. 11 is a detail view of the playing plunger or button for initiatingthe playing operation.

Fig. 12 is a detail view of the playing key and associated parts.

Fig. 131s a diagrammatic view of the electrical control circuits.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the cabinet in which the phonographapparatus and record changing mechanism is housed.

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the switch mechanism for institutingoperation of the record change mechanism.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughoutthe several views.

For convenience and accessibility, the various operating parts of theapparatus are mounted upon a double deck chassis which is bodilyremovable from the cabinet I Upon theupper deck 2 of the chassis thereis mounted the rotary phonograph turn table 3 actuated by the usualdriving motor 4 suspended beneath the chassis deck 2, and adjustablymounted adjacent to the turn table is the usual pickup arm or tone arm 5provided at its free end with the usual pickup head 6 carrying thetracer needle or stylus whichengages in the customary manner the recordgrooves in the face of the record discs upon the turn table 3.

Also mounted upon the upper deck 2 of the chassis and normally at oneside of the turn table 3 is a reciprocatory record disc magazine movablewithin parallel spaced guide or track rails i into and out of overlyingrelation with the turn table 3. The record magazine or carriagecomprises a rectangular frame a including parallel side barsinterconnected by transverse end bars 3b, and supported upon rollers 9for to and fro travel movement upon the chassis deck 2 within the guideor track rail 1. At its forward end the magazine or record carrier isprovided with spaced ledges or supporting lips i0 separated by anintervening space i I coincident with a shallow notch l2 in the lowermargin of the forward transverse frame bar 8b, of the carrier. At itsrear end the magazine or carrier is provided with an inwardly extendingmedial lip or ledge i3, above which is positioned a stop or abutment l4,the lower margin of which is spaced above the supporting lip or ledge H!a distance substantially equal to or slightly greater than the thicknessof one record disc, but less than that of two discs.

A considerable number of reserve record discs stacked one upon anothermay be supported upon the inwardly projecting ledges I0 and I3 at theforward and rearward sides of the magazine or Stationarily located uponthe upper deck .2 of the chassis in parallel spaced relation between theside members of the traveling magazine or rec-' ord carrier, is a pairof supporting rails l5 carried in elevated position upon posts I6 andserving to medially support the records in the event that there is anytendency of the records to sag or buckle. The elevated supporting railsl5 are stationary and the traveling magazine or record carriage movesrelative thereto, carrying the record discs over such-rails. The recorddiscs do not ordinarily contact nor slide upon the rails I5, but

normally clear such rails which are safety devices to support thelowermost disc in the event 7 zinc or carrier when the latter is in itsretracted position, and also to support the discs in the event they aredistorted or misshaped.

Transversely disposed in elevated relation above the traveling magazineorcarriage is a bridging bar H, carrying at a medial position thereon anthe traveling magazine carriage beneath the rear the magazine carriagethe lowermost disc record disc supporting ledge l3.

The actuating lever 20 is connected by a pitman or connecting rod 24with a crank arm 25 driven by an electric motor 26 through a suitablespeed reduction unit 26a. The motor energizing circuit is controlled, ashereafter descrlbed,to arrest the motor 26 when the crank arm 25 hasmade one complete rotation to thereby shift the magazine carriage 8 from..its normal position at.

one side of the phonograph turn table 3 to a position over such tableand then back to its normal position. During this to and fro motion ofthe magazine carriage, the pickup arm is raised off the played recordand by engagement of the contact plate I 8 therewith is oscillatedlaterally to its starting position and the played record is tilted to-aninclined position permitting the magazine carriage and the reservesupply of discs to enter therebeneath, and at the limit of the travel ofis deposited therefrom on to the turn table 3.

To enable the return of the pickup arm 5, the supporting post 21 uponwhich the arm is mounted for to and fro horizontal swinging motion, isin turn carried upon a rock shaft 28 disposed horizontally above theupper deck 2 of the chassis in suitable bearing brackets 29. The rockshaft 28 carries at its end opposite the pickup arm supporting post 21 ahorizontally projecting rock arm 30 provided at its extremity with aroller 3| aligned with a cam bar 32 fixedly secured to one of the sidebars 8a of the reciprocatory magazine carriage. In the initial advancemovement of the magazine carriage, the tapered forward end of the cambar 32, engaging beneath the roller 3!, lifts the rock arm 30 tooscillate the rock shaft 28, thereby tilting the supporting post 21 ofthe pickup arm 5 to lift the arm 5 and pickup head to elevated positionabove the played record upon the turn table 3. D

To facilitate this elevation of the pickup arm and minimize theload uponthe traveling carriage, the rock .arm 30 is connected by a retractilespring 33 with an overhanging standard 34 which, while insufiicient toovercome the weight of the pickup arm, nevertheless augments the liftingaction of the cam bar 32 as the magazine carriage advances.

During the advance of the magazine carriage by which the pickup arm iselevated from the position shown in Fig. 6, wherein the parts areillustrated in their normal or record playing relation, to thatdisclosed in Fig. 7, wherein the movement of the record carriage hasbeen initiated and the pickuparm elevated, the played record A has alsobeen lifted from the phonograph table 3 into a tilted or inclinedposition.

The elevation of the played record from the table 3 is effected bylifting arms 35 pivoted at 36 to the upper deck of the chassis in thepath of travel of the reciprocatory magazine carriage and extending intoproximity with the periphery 'of the phonograph table 3 at oppositesides thereof.

The lifting arms 35 are provided adjacent to their supporting brackets36 with vertical inclined deflections 0r bends 31, and adjacent to theirfree ends they are formed with additional lateral deflections or offsets38. At their extreme ends they are provided with pads 39 of rubber orother suitable cushion material for contact engagement with the underside of the played record A as these lifting arms are oscillatedupwardly about their pivotal connection with their brackets 36.

For oscillating the lifting arms in properly timed relation with themovement of the reciprocatory magazine carriage, there are providedspring arms 40 attached to the inner sides of the side bars 8a of themagazine carriage and extending parallel therewith in inwardly spacedrelation. At the ends of such spring arms 40 there are carried rollers41 normally positioned beneath the lifting arms 35 adjacent to theirpivotal connection with their brackets 36. As the magazine carriageadvances, the rollers 4|, upon the spring arms 40,

engaging the inclined deflection or bends 3'! of the lifting arm 35,exert camming action thereon to lift the arms upwardly causing thepadded extremities 39 to engage the played disc and lift it from thetable 3 into inclined position as shown in Fig. '7.

As the magazine carriage continues to advance, it enters beneath thetilted record, as shown in Fig. 8, and the rollers 4| advancing with thecarriage pass beyond the lateraLdeflections 38 of the lifting arms 35whereupon these lifting arms may drop to their normal position upon thedeck of the chassis as shown in Fig. 8.

As the point of engagement of the reciprocatory magazine carriage passesbeyond the center of the disc, the latter will tilt by gravity into ahorizontal position on top of the stack of reserve discs carried by themagazine carriageand will abut against the post 42 located beyond thelimit of the range of travel of the magazine carriage and having acushion head 43, preferably of rubber, which holds the elevated discagainst travel movement while the magazine carriage and the stack ofrecords therein continue to advance beneath the elevated record A.

At the limit of travel of the carriage the record has been positionedupon the top of the stack concentric with the reserve records. However,during the final approach of the magazine carriage to the limit of itsrange of travel, the forward transverse bar 8b thereof has passedslightly beyond astationary pin 44 located in front of the abutment post42 which, entering through the notch 12 in the bottom of the carriagebar and through the space H between the supporting ledges thereof, willhave caused the lowermost record disc of the stack to be arrestedslightly before the carriage reaches the limit oi its travel and therebypushed rearwardly relative to the carriage ofi the forward supportingledges l0 and within the space beneath the rear abutment member l4,thereby allowing the disc to drop on to the turn table 3 in a slightlyinclined position, as shown in Fig. 9, in which the center pin 45 of theturn table engages the central hole of the disc thereby preventingretractive movement of the disc with the return of the carriage.

As the carriage begins its return movement,

the lowermost disc being held by the central ,stud or pin 65 of the turntable will be withdrawn from the warmest supporting ledge E3 of .themagazine carriage and thereupon falls into playing position upon thephonograph turn table 3; The pickup arm 5, held in elevated position bythe engagement of the cam bar 32 beneath the'roller 3| of the rack arm30, having been swung laterally to its starting position by the contactof the plate l8 upon the transverse bridge bar H rests against a springarm 46 located adjacent to the abutment post 42. This spring arm 46 ispreferably deflected or curved at its upper extremity whereby, as thepickup head 6 later descends, the arm will exert a slightly tensionedcamming action inwardly relative to the record to properly position thestylus of the pickup head -or retractive movement, leaves the depositedrecord upon the turn table and returns to its normalposition,illustrated in Fig. 6. As the magazine carriage approaches the limit ofits range of retractive travel the roller 3| of the rock arm 30 passingdown the inclined end of the cam bar 32 gradually lowers the pickup arm5 until the stylus is in engagement with the newly.

deposited record. In its descent on to the record, the pickup head 6 iscammed slightly inwardly by the spring arm 46 which is tensionedsomewhat by contact of the pickup head therewith to shift the headacross the smooth margin ofthe disc until the stylus engages the initialrecord groove. At the limit of the return movement, the energizingcircuit of the motor 26 is opened and the carriage comes to rest.

While the reproduction, in the present instance, is efiectedelectrically and amplified through a conventional vacuum tube amplifierunit 4'! connected with a typical speaker unit 48, it is to beunderstood that such method of electrical reproduction is not essentialbut the arm 5 and end 6 may be a conventional tone arm and diaphragmtype reproducer well known in the phonographic art.

Electrical controL-The traveling magazine carriage is set in operationautomatically to interchange the records at the end of each playingergized to effect repetition of the record exchange in order that anydesired record of the reservesupply may be positioned for playing.

At the present time most commercial phonolgraph records are providedcentrally with either an eccentric or involute continuation of therecord grooves of exaggerated pitch by which the pickup or tone arm, asthe case may be, is given a continued oscillatory movement after thecompletion of the record playing period. Such continuation 'of thestylus'track upon the record is for the purpose of operating the recordchanging mechanism, for which purpose it is also utilize in the presentinstance.

For automatically setting in operation the record exchange apparatusthere is provided adjacent to the pickup arm supporting post 21 anelectrical circuit closer comprising two independi The contact blade 50,which is pivoted at 53, cargreater than rod connected with a rock arm 56projecting from the pickup arm post 2?. To increase the tenacity of thefriction rod 55, that portion thereof engageable within the spring forkor gripping arm 54 of the contact blade 50 is preferably, although notnecessarily, rubber covered. As the pickup arm 5 travels inwardly towardthe center of the record being played, the supporting post 21 rotatingwith the arm exerts a pulling influence through the rock arm 56 upon thefriction rod 55 to draw the rod-through the spring fork or gripper arm54 against the tension thereof, thereby tending to move the contact arm50 about its pivotal connection 53 down wardly and'away from the secondcontact blade 5| 'thereby maintaining the electrical contact be- 7 tweensuch members open.

However, when the playing stylus, carried by the pickup head 6, passesbeyond the record grooves of the disc and into the eccentric or blade 50to make contact with the blade 5| and thereby close the actuating motorcircuit.

turers are not provided with continuing eccentric grooves necessary toproduce the reversal of the pickup arm movement necessary to elevate thecontact blade 50 and close the motor control cir- M cuit, therefore, tomake the apparatus universal and. enable the control circuit to beclosed to efiect interchange of records regardless of the type of.record being played, thecircuit closer blade 5| is provided with anupstanding portion 58 projectinginto the path of a dependent vane orcontact portion 59 carried upon the friction actuating rod 55. Thiscontact vane 59 is adjustable longitudinally of the actuating rod 55 byadjustment of the nuts 66, screw threaded thereon at opposite sides ofthe contact vane. As the playing stylus reaches the end of the recordgroove in the disc record the contact vane 59 will engage the upstandingportion 58 and by continued movement of the pickup arm and the rod 55the contact blade 5| will be depressed against the yielding resistanceof an L-shaped elevating spring 6| secured to the mounting block 52 atthe side opposite the contact blades 50 and 5| and having its lateralarm extending transarm 54. When the record disc is of different typewherein no limited reversal movement of the pick- -'up arm iseffected,the continued inner movement of the pickup arm will cause the contactblade 5| to be depressed against the tension of the spring 6| intoengagement with the contact blade 56 by the continued pulling effortupon the operator rod 55 which is transmitted to the contact vane59 andprojecting portion 58 to the circuit closing blade 5|.

As is illustrated in the circuit diagram, Fig. l3,

30 Phonographic records of certain manufacthe operating current issupplied from the power line 62 for the various electrical operations,the voltage of which is reduced through the transformer 64 to a shuntcircuit in which is included the automatic switch heretofore described.As shown in the circuit diagram, one contact blade of the circuit closer59-51 is connected through the line 63 with one output terminal of thetransformer 64. The other contact blade of such circuit closeris-connected through the line 65 with electro-magnet coils 66 which arein turn connected through the line 61 with the opposite terminal of thetransformer. The closing of this circuit energizes the electro-magnet 66to attract its armature 68, best illustrated in Fig. 2. The armature bar68 is pivoted at its lower end to the free end of'a lever 69 which ispivoted at i9 and capable of limited oscillatory movement against thetension of a retracting spring IL.

The armature bar 66 normally supports in an elevated position a circuitcloser arm 72 which normally rests upon a stud or pin 13 projecting fromthe armature bar 68. The armature bar 66 is provided with a retractingspring 14, against the tension of which the armature bar is retracted bythe energization of the electro-magnet 66 to withdraw the supporting pin13 from beneath the circuit closing arm 12 allowing the arm 72 to dropby gravity into closing contact with a stationary terminal i5. Theclosing of the contacts 12 and 15 closes the motor energizing circuitthrough the line 16 from the transformer 64 to the circuit closing arm12 and thence from the contact 15 through the line 11 to the actuatingmotor 26, the opposite side of which is connected through the line 78 tothe opposite-terminal of the transformer 64.

The motor circuit being thus closed, the motor 26 is energized toactuate the parts through one complete rotation of the driving crank arm25 which is connected through the link 24 and arm 26 with the magazinecarriage to effect one complete advance and return movement of thelatter, during which the previously played record is removed from thetable 3 and the succeeding lowermost record is deposited thereon.

As the driving crank 25 completes its rotary motion, a contact finger19, carried by the motor shaft and rotating in unison with the crank arm25, contacts a cam surface 86 upon the lower side of the pivoted lever69 beyond its pivotal point 79. This engagement of the contact finger #9with the cam surface 89 oscillates the lever 69 against the tension ofits retracting spring II to draw the armature bar 66 downwardly untilthe pin 73 then resting against the end of the circuit closing arm 12may pass beneath such arm under influence of the retractile spring 14connected to the armature bar 68. As the contact finger 19 passes'beyondthe cam surface 80, the spring 1 I, returning the oscillated arm 69 andthe armature bar 68 upwardly, will cause the circuit closing arm 12 tobe lifted by the pin 13 from its closing engagement with the contactterminal I5, thereby again opening the motor energizing circuit and theparts will come to rest at the completion of one cycle ofrecord'changing operation with the magazine carriage in its normalretracted position as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 6.

By the means thus described the control circuit is closed at the end ofthe playing operation to energize the electro-magnet 66, which in turneffects the closingof the motor energizing circuit to set in operationthe motor 26 to actuate the record changing apparatus through one cycleof operation, thereby automatically changing the next record of theseries for the previously played record.

It may be desired, however, to play some particular record of thereserve supply other than the next of the series. Means is thereforeprovided for effecting repetition of the record exchange operation untilthe desired record disc is deposited upon the rotaryphonograph table 3.To this end there is provided a manually operated depressible, circuitclosing button 62 connected at one side with the line 65 leading to theelectromagnet coils 66 and then through the line 61 to one side of thetransformer and connected at its opposite side through a line 86, whichin turn connects through included circuit closing elements with the lineEB'cQmmunicating with the opposite terminal of the transformer 66.

Thus when the button 82 is depressed and the circuit closed through thecoils 66, the armature bar 66 will be attracted to release the circuitclosing arm 12 which, by its descent into engagement with the terminal15, closes the circuit through the actuating motor 26 to operate therecord exchange apparatus as before described. This manually operatedbutton 82 may be depressed any number of times to repeat the recordexchange operation until the desired record has been selected anddeposited upon the rotary table 3.

The desired record, having been selected and deposited, the turn tableactuating motor 3 is then set in operation by closing an additionalcircuit closer 95 included in a-motor energizing circuit comprising thelines 96, 81 and 68 by which the turn table motor 4 is bridged acrossthe power line 62. At the completion of the playing period, the circuitcloser 85 is opened automatically to deenergize the turn table motor 4by the movement of the magazine carriage actuating arm 29. This iseffected by a rock shaft 99 journalled in spaced upright supports 99 and9| and having at its extremity an extended rock arm 92, extending intothe path of a stud or roller 93 carried by the arm 20 by which themagazine carriage is reciprocated.

The rock shaft 89 also carries a short rock arm 94 to which is pivoted apawl 95 engageable with a vertically moving rack bar 96. In thedrawings, the rack bar 96 has been illustrated as provided with a seriesof spaced studs or pins 91' projecting perpendicular to the plane of thebar 96 with which the pawl 95 engages. The pawl 95 is pivoted to the arm94 for idle oscillation in one direction. I

As the elongated rock arm 92 is elevated by the action of the magazinecarriage operating am 29, the short rock arm 94 is depressed, causingthe pawl 95 to move idly over one of the pins or teeth 91 of the rackbar against the yielding resistance of a retracting spring 98 whichtends to return the rock shaft 89 and the arms 92 and 94. As themagazine carriage operating arm 29 returns to normal position at thecompletion of the record changing operation, it permits the elongatedrock arm 92 and with it the shaft 89 to likewise return to normal underinfluence of the retracting spring 98. However, during this returnmovement the pawl 95 will have engaged beneath one of the projectingpins or teeth 91 of the reciprocatory rack bar 96, and the return Imovement of the shaft 89 and arm 94 will serve This reciprocatory rackbar 96, slidingly mounted in suitable ways 99, has operative connectionwith 7 between succeeding studs or teeth 91.

the circuit closer 85 pertaining to the phonograph motor circuit.Pivotally connected to the circuit closer arm 85 is a vertically movingbar I00, from which projects upward a rod or stem I0i, the upper end ofwhich is bent laterally to form a hook or ofiset which overhangs a pinI02 projecting from the lower end of the reciprocatory rack bar 90. Asthe rack bar 96 approaches the upper limit of its range of travel underinfluence of the elevating pawl 95, the pin I 02 engaging beneath theofiset upper end or hook of the stem I M draws the circuit closer arm 05upwardly thereby opening the motor circuit and arresting the rotation ofthe table 0.

The vertically moving bar I00, connected to the circuit breaker arm 85,also controls a circuit closer in the selector control circuit line 83.This circuit make and break device comprises a pivoted contact arm I00,one extremity of which extends within the path of the vertically movingbar I00 and is engaged thereby to open the selector control circuit'line when the playing circuit is closed by the descent of the circuitclosing arm 85. To the contrary, the opening of the playing switch bythe elevation of the rack bar upon completion of the cycle of operation,as before described, will allow the circuit closer H03 to automaticallyclose the selector circuit. Thus the circuit closer 85 in the phonographmotor circuit and the circuit closer I03 in the selector button circuit,controlled by the button 02 operate alternately, that is, when one ofthese circuit closers is open the other is closed and vice versa. Bythis means it is impossible to operate the selector button 82 to set inoperation the record changing apparatus until the playing of the recordhas been completed and the record changing apparatus control circuit hasbeen auto-- matically closed by the movement of the pickup arm 5, andconversely the operation of the circuit closer 85 to set in operationthe phonograph turn table automatically opens the contact I03 andrenders the manual selector button 821 ineffective.

The opening and closing of the phonograph motor circuit, and incidentalthereto the opening and closing of the manual selector circuit, iscontrolled entirely by the vertical adjustment of the rack bar 90 which,as before described, engages at its upper limit of range of travel withthe stem 5.05 to lift the contact 85 and bar I00.

Therack bar 96 descends within its ways 99 by gravity and such descentis controlled by an oscillatory escapement pallet I05 which is piv--oted at I06 and subject to retractive influence of a spring IN. Theescapement device is provided with two spaced teeth I08 engageablealternately with the teeth or studs 91 of the vertically moving rack bar96, and also is provided with an operating arm I09 terminating in aslightly distance until arrested by the escapement device.

At each oscillation of the escapement device I05 the rack bar will beallowed to drop the distance of one predetermined step as defined by thespace Thus by operating the escapement device several times insuccession and allowing the rack bar to deaieaeai scend a like number ofsteps or spaces, the playing control switch 85 will not be opened untilthe rack bar has been again elevated through a like number of steps orspaces whereby the extended pin I02 will again engage and elevate thestem IN to again open the contact 05. Inasmuch as the rack bar 90 iselevated only one step or space at each operation of the rock shaft 09and pawl arm 96, it necessarily follows that the cycle of operation ofplaying and interchanging records will be repeated as many times as therack bar has been permitted to descend through succeeding steps orspaces and in turn this corresponds to the number of times theescapement device 005 has been actuated.

The escapement device is operated by means of a depressible playing keyor plunger l l i having on its inner end a cam portion H2 engageablewith the curved plate N0 of the escapement arm I09 to depress the armand operate the escapement to permit the descent of the rack bar 00 onestep or space at each operation of the playing key or plunger Ill. Eachtime the playing key or plunger HI is depressed, the rack bar 90 isallowed to descend one space or step. Consequently if the playing key orplunger Ill is depressed but once the apparatus will be set in operationand upon the completion of the playing of the record then upon theturntable 3, the record changing apparatus will be operated through acomplete cycle to exchange the record, replacing it with the next recordof the series, and the apparatus will come to rest with the circuitcloser 85 of the phonograph motor is elevated by the return of the rackbar 90 to its uppermost position by the action of the pawl 05.

However, if the playing key or plunger Mi is depressed a number of timesin succession, the escapement I05 being operated at each depression topermit the descent of the rack bar an additional step or space fromwhich it is returned one step or space at each actuation of theelevating pawl 95, the apparatus will operate but the record will not beplayed until the playing key or plunger III is depressed. However, theplaying key or plunger may be depressed any number of times to effectautomatic repetition of the cycle of operation by which succeedingrecords are deposited upon the turn table 3 played and removedtherefrom, and until such sequence of records has been completed, theselector button 82 remains ineffective due to the fact that the circuitcloser I03 is maintained open so long as the contact 85 is closed.

The.construction and operation as heretofore described is that for homeuse or for uncontrolled and unrestricted interexchange and playing ofrecords.

For use, however, in public places the construction illustrated and asheretofore described is easily and conveniently adapted for commercialexploitation through coin control operation. In lieu of depressing theescapement arm I09 by the camming action of the playing key or plungerIII, the escapement may be operated by the weight of a dropping coin,but before the coin is released for impingement upon the escapementoperating plate III), it is'temporarily arrested by a pair of spacedcontacts in the line 83 of the selector circuit to temporarily close theselector circuit so that the button 82 may be operated any desirednumber of timesto select a particular record to be played, the presenceof the coin being necessary to close this circuit.

After the selection has been made, the coin is dislodged from the spacedselector circuit terminals by depression of a playing key or plunger andis caused to fall upon the escapement operating plate II I] whereuponthe operation is as before described.

Such coin control system is illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11 wherein H3 isa coin chute leading downwardly in a somewhat inclined direction fromthe exterior of the cabinet i. Projecting into the path of the coin asit passes from the lower end of the inclined coin chute H3 are twospaced electrical terminals H4 connected into the line 83 of theselector circuit, as shown in Fig. 13, which intercepts the descendingcoin and upon which the coin temporarily lodges. The engagement of thecoin H5 with thespaced electrical terminals M4 closes the selectorcircuit therebetween and renders the selector button 82 eifective forrepeated operation of the record changing apparatus so long as the coinIIS remains in bridging relation with the terminal stud II4.

A hook-shaped spring finger IIG, secured to the rear side of the coinchute and terminal support I I1, extends about the margin of the supportI I I and overhangs the deposited coin H5 the front of the cabinet I isadapted upon depression to flex the spring finger H6 sufliciently tocause the stud I I8 carried thereby to push the coin off the supportingelectrical terminals H4. The dislodged coin then falls through abottomless guide chute i I9, beneath which the operator plate I III ofthe escapement device'extends. The

coin IIS, dislodged from the selector circuit terminals Ill fallingthrough the guide chute I I9, impinges upon the plate I ID withsufiicient force to depress the escapement device I05 against thetension oi its retracting spring I01 and thereby releases the rack bar96 for descent through one step or space.

If only a single coin is deposited in this manher, the apparatus will beoperated through but a single cycle of operation and will come to rest Ywhen one record has been played and another has been substitutedtherefor preparatory to the, next playing operation. However, any numberof coins may be deposited in succession without waiting for thecompletion of any playing period. The deposit of each coin will operatethe escapement to permit descent of the rack bar 96 through oneadditional step or space andthereafter the cycle'of bperation will berepeated as many times as tliere have been coins deposited, i

The coin chute I I3 which extends to the exterior of the cabinet I to)receive the deposited coins is suificiently long that a number of coinsmay be retained therein, the lowermost of which will rest on and bridgethe terminals H4 thereby enabling the changing apparatus motor circuitto be closed by depression of the button 82. The

remainder of the deposited coin supply will be supported on thelowermost coin. As the plunger la is depressed the lowermost coinwill bedislodged from the contacts I I4 and fall onto the escapement pallet H2to actuate the control bar escapement, and the next succeeding coin inthe chute H3 will take its place bridging the termirials H4. Thus areserve supply of coins may be deposited in the chute and. used each inturn to enable repetitious operation of the record changing apparatus toselect particular records out of their sequential arrangement in themagazine carriage. In lieu of holding the supply of coins in reserve forrecord selecting purposes, a series of coins may be consecutivelydeposited through the chute into the apparatus by repeated operation ofthe playing plunger Ilia, even while the apparatus is in operation. Eachcoin falling on the pallet H2 will operate the escapement I05 to advancethe control member 96 one step. The rack bar 96 may thus be advanced asuccession of steps by deposit of a like number of coins, therebycausing continuous repetition of the playing operation and recordchanging operation until the rack bar has been retracted a like numberof steps, by the pawl 95, which operates the rack bar one step, once foreach record changed, until the control bar is returned to normal.However when the control bar 95 is fully retracted and the button 82 isdepressed to select a record the retracting means 92-94 and 85 willoperate idly.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thusprovided a device of the character described possessing the particularfeatures of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but whichobviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions,detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from theprinciple involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute, the invention has beendescribed in language more or less specific as to structural features,it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specificfeatures shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosedcomprise the preferred form of several modes of putting the inventioninto eiiect, and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its formsor modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. Aphonographic apparatus including a record disc receiving turn tableand a swinging pickvup arm cooperating with a disc record thereon,

with the record, a distance suflicient to permit the carriage and supplyof discs carried thereby to enter beneath the elevated record disc, acontact portion upon the traveling carriage engageable with the pick-uparm for returning the arm to graphic record discs are to be depositedupon and removed from a phonographic turn table whereon they areoperatively engaged by a phonographic pick-up arm, a traveling magazinecarriage for a stack of superposed record discs movable to and fro intoand out of overlying rela-' tion with the phonographic turn table,elevator means operable by advance movement of the traveling magazineinto overlying relation with the turntable for raising a previouslydeposited record from the turntable, fore and aft supporting ledges onthe carriage engaged by thelowermost disc of the supply stackfor'removably supporting the superposed record discs thereon, therearward ledge being of greater length than the forward ledge, stopmeans engaged by the lowermost disc of the stack before the carriagereaches the limit of its forward travel for arresting the lowermostrecord disc substantially in registry I with the phonographic turn tablewhile the continuedadvance of the carriage withdraws the forwardsupporting ledge from thereunder permitting the lowermost disc todescend onto the turn table, the rear supporting ledge being withdrawnfrom under the lowermost record upon return movement of the carriageleaving the record in playing position upon the turn table, I

3. In an apparatus wherein successive phonographic record discs are tobe deposited upon and removed from a phonographic turn table whereonthey are operatively engaged by a phonographic pick-up arm, a travelingmagazine carriage for a stack of superposed record discs, means foradvancing the carriage into and out of overhanging relation with theturn table, a discharge outlet in the bottom of the magazine throughwhich record discs are successively dropped vertically onto the turntable when in registry therewith, means for releasing the 'record discsone by one from the bottom of the stack onto the turn table when in suchoverlying position, elevator means operable by the advance movement ofthe carriage for raising a previously deposited record from the turntable into an inclined position prior to the engagement therewith of thecarriage and associated parts traveling with the carriage to permit thecarriage and supply stack of records to advance thereunder whereby therecord thus removed from the turn table will be received on top of thesupply stack.

4. In an apparatus wherein successive phonographic record discs are tobe deposited upon and removed from a phonographic turn table whereonthey are operatively engaged by a phonographic pick-up arm, a mountingfor said arm upon which the pick-up arm is mounted for both verticallyswinging and horizontally swinging motion, a traveling magazine carriagefor a supply stack of superposed record discs movable into and out ofoverlying relation with the turn table,

record elevating means operable to lift'a record anteater the stackpreparatory to deposit thereof upon the turn table when the magazinecarriage is in overlying relation with the turn table, and meansoperated by the travel of the carriage for initially elevating thepick-up arm through its vertical swinging movement and by further travelmotion thereof shift the elevated pick-up arm through its horizontalmovement to starting position.

5. In an apparatus wherein successive phonographic record discs are tobe deposited upon and removed from a phonographic turn table whereonthey are operatively engaged by a phonographic pick-up arm, a travelingmagazine carriage for a supply stack of superposed record discs movableto and fro into and out of overlying relation with the turn table,tilting means operated in unison with the travel of the carriage forelevating one edge of a record disc from the turn table to inclinedposition thereabove in advance of its engagement by the carriage orassociated traveling parts whereby the carriage and stack of recordscarried thereby may enter therebeneath, disc releasing means for dis=lodging the lowermost record disc of the stack by the continuing advancemovement of the carriage when positioned over the table, means forinitially elevating and subsequently shifting the pick-up arm fromfinish to starting-position in unison with the movement of the carriage,and

actuating means for the apparatus.

6. A phonographic apparatus wherein a swing= ing pick-up arm coacts witha record disc upon a turn table, characterized by a traveling magazinecarriage for a supply of record discs adapted to receive a played recorddisc from the turn table and deposit a succeeding record disc thereon,an actuating motor for said traveling carriage, an electrical energizingcircuit for the motor, a make and break device in said circuitcontrolled by the pick-up arm, a slidable friction rod connecting themake and break device and the pick-up arm and initially adjusting themake and break device through infiuence of frictional resistance tosliding motion of the connecting rod by its initial movement in eitherdirection and upon further "movement of the pick-up arm slidinglymovable i thereto against the influence of the frictionai resistanceduring further movement of the rod in the same direction, and means fortransmitting reciprocatory motion to the rod.

8. A phonographic apparatus wherein a swinging pick-up arm coacts withthe record disc upon a turntable characterized by an electric circuit, amake and break control device therefor including two relatively movablecontact members either of which is movable independently of the otherinto and out of circuit closing relation therewith, a reciprocatoryactuating member having operative relation with both movable contactmembers and by its motion in one direction actuating one contact memberinto circuit closing wherein a succession of disc records are to besuccessively deposited upon and removed from 'a phonograph turn tablecharacterized by an actuating motor for the turntable, a manuallycontrolledelectrical energizing circuit for the tumtable motor, atraveling magazine carriage movable to and fro into and out of overlyingrelation with the phonograph turn table,'record disc removing anddepositing means associated therewith the depositing means includingoppositely disposed ledges from which the record is dislodged fordeposit on the turn table in response to the combined fore and aftmovement of the magazine carriage, an actuating motor therefor, anelectrical energizing circuit for the record changing means motor, amanually operated circuit closer and an automatically operated circuitcloser either ,of which will set the latter motor in operation toactuate the apparatus through a single cycle of operation, means forautomatically opening the circuit at the end of a single cycle ofoperation initiated by either circuit closer the re-v spective motorcircuits being controlled independently of each other. 1

10. A phonographic record changing apparatus wherein a succession ofdisc records are to be successively deposited upon and removed from aphonograph turn table characterized by an actuating motor for theturntable, a manually controlled electrical energizing circuit for theturntable motor, a traveling magazine carriage movable to and fro intoand out of overlying relation with the phonograph turn table, recorddisc removing and depositing means associated therewith, the depositingmeans'including oppositely disposed ledges from which a record isdislodged for deposit on the turntable in response to the combined foreand aft movement of themagazine carriage, an actuating motor therefor,an electrical energizing circuitv for the motor, two

independently operated circuit closers in said clr-- cuit, one of'saidcircuit closers being automatically actuated by the movement of thepick-up arm to set the motor in operation to'effect an exchange ofrecords at the completion of a playing period, and means actuated bythe" manual operation of the second circuit closer for effectingrepetition of the record exchange operation without playing operation ofthe deposited record, the turn table motor circuit and the recordchanging means motor circuit being independ-' ently controlled.

Y 11. In a phonographic apparatus, the combination with a phonographicturn table, an actuating motor therefor, a traveling record magazinecarriage, an actuating motor for shifting the magazine carriage into andout of record changing relation with the turn table, an electriccircuit, for energizing each motor, a circuit breaker in thephonographic motor circuit, a second circuit breaker in the magazinecarriage motor circuit, a control member 'for the circuitbreakersmovable through successive steps first in one direction and then in theother, manual means for eifecting step by step movement of thecontrolmember in one direction by the initial movement of which thecircu closer pertaining to the magazine carriage motor is opened and thecircuit breaker pertaining tothe turn table motor is closed, meansindependently of' said circuit breaker for closing the magazine carriagemotor circuit at the completion of a, record playing operation, meansactuated by the magazine carriage motor for retracting thecontrol'member, the final movement of which operatesto open the turntable motor circuit breaker and close the magazine carriage motorcircuit breaker, preparatory to another cycle of operations.

12. In a phonographic apparatus, the combination with a phonographicturn table, an actuating motor therefor and an energizing circuit forsaid turntable motor, including'a circuit breaker, of a record changerapparatus, an actuating motor therefor, an energizing circuit for saidchanging apparatus motor, including a manually operable circuit closerand automatically operable circuit closer means in the changingapparatus motor circuit, manually controlled means for closing the turntable motor circuit breaker and simultaneously opening the changingapparatus motor circuit to prevent actuation of the record changingapparatus during operation of the phonographic turn table, means forclosing the changing apparatus motor circuit at the end of the period ofoperation of the turn table, and means actuated by the changingapparatus motor effective to open the turn table motor circuit and bystep motion and means for retracting the control member through reversestep by step motion under influence of the record changing apparatusmotor, alternating circuit breakers in the turn table motor circuit andthe changing apparatus circuit operated to close the turn table motorcircuit and open the changing apparatus motor on cuit upon. the initialmovement of the control member from unoperated position and to open theturn table motor circuit and close the changingapparatus motor circuitupon its final retractive movement into'normal position.

1'4. In a phonographic apparatus, the combination with a phonographicturn-table, an actuating motor therefor and an energizing circuit for."

said turn table motor including a circuit breaker, of a record changingapparatus, an actuating motor therefor, an energizing circuit for said.

changing apparatus motor, manual means for closing the changingapparatus motor circuit at will independently of the closing of the turntable motor circuit to eifect repetitious operation of the recordchanging apparatus, means operative upon the closing of the turntablemotor circuit rendering the manual changing apparatus circuit closingmeans ineflective and thereby preventing manual closing of the changingapparatus motor circuit during operation of the turn table motor, andmeans restoring the changing apparatus motor circuit to manual controlat the completion of the period of operationof the turn table motor. 7 f

15. In a phonographic apparatus, the combination with-a phonog'raphicturn table, an ac-' tuating motor therefor and an energizing circuit forthe turn table motor, of a record changing apparatus, an actuating motortherefor and an energizing circuit for the changing apparatus motor,alternately opened and closed circuit breakers in the respectivecircuits, a common control member therefor operable at the will of theoperator for closing the turn table motor circuit and opening thechanging apparatus motor circuit to prevent the operation of the recordchanging apparatus while the turn table is in operation, means forclosing the changing apparatus motor circuit at the completion of the:period of motor operation of the turn table, means actuated by thechanging apparatus motor for restoring the common control member, andthereby reversing the circuit breakers to-open the turn table motorcircuit and close the changing apparatus motor circuit preparatory tothe next cycle of operation, and manual means for closing the changingapparatus motor circuit in initiating operation of the record changingapparatus independently of the operation of said common control member.

16. In a phonographic apparatus, the combination with a phonographicturn table, an actuating motor therefor and an energizing circuit forthe turn table motor, ofa record changing apparatus, an actuating motortherefor and an, energizing circuit for the changing apparatus motor, areciprocatory rack bar, an escapement 'mechanism under control of theoperator forcontrolling movement of the bar through a step by stepmotion, actuating means operated by the changing apparatus motor forrestoring the rack bar through a step by step motion, alternately openedand closed circuit breakers in the respective motor circuits alternatedby the reciprocatory movements of the rack bar.

17. In a phonographic apparatus, the combination with a-phonographicturn table, an actuating motor therefor and an energizing circuit forthe turn table motor, a record changing apparatus, an actuating motortherefor and an energizing circuit for the changing apparatus motor,alternately opened and closed circuit breakers in the respectivecircuits, a normally open circuit closer in the changing apparatus motorcircuit, manually operable electro-magnetio means for efiecting theclosure of such circuit closer to set in operation the changingapparatus motor,.and means operated by the motor for automaticallyopening said circuit closer at the end of the cycle of operation of therecord changing apparatus.

18. In -a phonographic apparatus, a motor driven turn table, a motoractuated record changing apparatus, independently operable motors forthe turn table and the record changing apparatus, electrical controlcircuits for the respective motors, independently operable manualcircuit closers in the respective circuits operable to repetitiouslyclose the record changing apparatus motor circuit, an automaticallyoperated circuit closer in the control circuit for the record changingapparatus motor closed at the completion of a playing period foreffecting automatic change of record, and means effective to preventclosing of the record changing apparatus motor circuit during theplaying period initiated by the closing of the turn table motor circuit.

19. A phonographic apparatus wherein a swinging pick-up arm coacts witha record disc upon a turntable, characterized by a record changingmechanism, including an actuating motor, an electrical control circuitfor the motor,

closed while said rod continues to move in said reverse directionrelative thereto.

' BENJAMIN L. CARTMEIL.

